Archives

Monthly Archives: May 2010

Natureboy was fresh off their well-received Truck America Festival appearance when they returned to NYC to play the NYCTaper 3rd Anniversary show a couple of weeks ago. While the late-arriving crowd meant the band played half their set to a handful of people, by the time Sara Kerminshahi grabbed the acoustic guitar for a superb solo rendition of the Dylan-via-Nico classic “I’ll Keep It With Mine”, the room was packed. And lucky for them. Sara’s intense performance was one of the highlights of the evening. The entire Natureboy set was a strong run through a mix of material from their excellent self-titled 2009 debut and two promising new numbers. Natureboy will play a couple of shows in Brooklyn this month, at Zebulon on June 13, and another Kevchino show at Knitting Factory on June 16.

We recorded this set with the same mix as the Dinosaur Feathers set from this night and the sound quality is excellent. Enjoy!

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Natureboy, visit their MySpace page, and purchase Saraâ€™s self-released debut album by following the links to amazon.com mp3s and Itunes at the Natureboy MySpace page.

The second annual Northside Festival returns from June 24 – June 27 at various venues in Brooklyn. The list of bands includes twenty-two artists who have previously been featured on NYCTaper, and this year we will be very busy covering many of the Fest’s featured shows. While the official complete schedule has not been released, there are quite a number of excellent showcases that have been announced. In particular, the Woodist Records showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg is scheduled for Friday June 25, and the Brooklynvegan showcase is at the same venue on Saturday June 26. We expect to cover both of these. In addition, shows by Titus Andronicus, Fiery Furnaces, Dinosaur Feathers, Liars, F*cked Up, Les Savy Fav and Polvo are all must-see’s.

Northside Festival is also running an excellent contest in which they will give away eight badges and other assorted goodies, the first prize of which includes a VIP pass and an iPad. All the details of the contest are here.

We will post our complete show schedule for the Northside Festival when all the showcases are officially announced. Until then, expect more updates here and at the Northside site and Northside twitter.

[Photos from the March 27, 2010 Slumberland Anniversary Party in San Francisco, CA courtesy of Opurt2007]

Los Angeles-based (by way of Glasgow) Neverever defy the stereotype of the dowdy indiepop band – or at least, lead vocalist Jihae Meek does, donning a gold bodysuit that stood out more than a little among the sea of cardigans (and one Spongebob Squarepants skirt) in the audience at the final day/night of NYC Popfest 2010. The band’s flouncy, fun sound melds mid-20th century pop with a hint of post-punk. Their songs cover the usual topics – puppy love, break-ups and romantic obsessions – rendered in Meek’s dramatic vocal style. Playing to an enthusiastic mid-day crowd, the band (and let’s face it, the gold bodysuit) kept the attention squarely front and center. The band released their new album, Angelic Swells, yesterday, and like almost all Slumberland Records releases, we can attest that it is a treat.

I recorded this set in the same manner as The Secret History recording, with the DPA mics and a top-quality soundboard feed. This recording emphasizes the soundboard feed a bit more to bring out the strength of the vocals. Enjoy!

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Neverever, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their newly-released Angelic Swells from Slumberland Records [HERE].

I love these break-out Bowery nights. We first got to know Holly Miranda back in October, when we recorded her set opening for the Antlers, and I then got drunk with both bands after the show. Holly’s obvious and immense talents are perhaps eclipsed only by her personality — she is genuinely a fun and nice person. It was an extra treat when the nyctaper recording of Holly’s Pink Floyd cover from that night went viral on the web. Following the February release of her new album The Magician’s Private Library on XL Recordings, the world at large caught on, critical praise and new fans followed. At the conclusion of her first major headlining tour, Holly returned home last night to a packed Bowery Ballroom and delivered a performance of stunning quality and depth. The strong Magician’s material we expected, along with the promised horn section and special guests (Kyp Malone). What we did not expect were two eclectic covers, including her jaw-dropping take on the Etta James classic “I’d Rather Go Blind”. It doesn’t get much better than that, and to have it happen at her Bowery break-out is even more rewarding.

We recorded this set with the Neumann microphones at the balcony rail. The sound mix at Bowery on this night was quite exceptional, and we are quite pleased with the excellent quality of this recording. Enjoy!

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Holly Miranda, visit her website, visit her blog, and purchase The Magician’s Private Library directly from the Beggar’s Group website [HERE].

[Photos of The Secret History’s performance last year at NYC Popfest 2009 courtesy of F Yang at chromewaves.net]

Despite some hefty competition from the season finale of a certain fan-beloved TV show, real indiepop fans knew that the only place to be this past Sunday was sharing the cozy and welcoming Littlefield with luminaries of the genre from across the U.S. and Sweden at an all-day event. The Secret History, the penultimate act of the night and the only NYC-based band on the bill, were probably the strongest of the fourth and final night of the NYC Popfest 2010.

I recorded this set with the DPA mics and a top-quality soundboard feed. This recording emphasizes the soundboard feed a bit more to bring out the strength of the vocals. Enjoy!

Neil Halstead is such a modest and unassuming fellow, that I was not even sure it was him setting up to play at the Truck America Festival earlier this month. As we set up the nyctaper DPA microphones as the stage mics for guitar and violin for his set, Neil was quietly tuning his guitar. He began his set in a similar fashion, mumbling hello before the first number. The moment the music began, it was as if a switch was turned on and his immense talent shone through. As a key figure in the influential 90’s band Slowdive and later with the excellent Mojave3, Neil Halstead’s solo work is almost a third career, and his two albums stand up to the best of his early bands’ catalog. His Truck set drew from those two releases and included some new numbers, before Neil was joined by Joe Bennett on violin for a couple of Mojave3 songs. While the crowded tent was eerily quiet during his set, at times the only sound was the voice of Neil’s young son calling out to his dad — which was entirely appropriate given the family nature of the excellent Truck America Festival.

We recorded this same in the same location and with the same equipment as the Gary Louris set and the sound quality is outstanding. Enjoy!

This Recording is now available for Download in FLAC and MP3 at Archive.org [HERE].

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Neil Halstead, visit his website, visit his MySpace page, and purchase his latest album from the Brushfire Records website [HERE].

It was refreshing, for once, to see an exciting, emerging American band that wasn’t from Brooklyn. The electronic rock duo Phantogram hail from the rural college town of Saratoga Springs, NY – so far from Brooklyn it might as well be in Virginia. But geography aside, Phantogram’s sound is very of the moment, a smooth, approachable style they call “street beat, psych pop.” The closest reference, by far, would be the also-booming UK band The xx, who have been reviving some of the better elements of the mid-90s sound once known as “trip-hop” without letting the style devolve into a bunch of faceless Starbucks jams. Phantogram’s style occupies a solid middle ground between the somber and the bombastic, with songs that are instantly memorable.

For Phantogram, this show represented a crucial milestone familiar to every New York band: their first sellout of the Bowery Ballroom. Playing live can be a challenge for a band whose sound relies so heavily on pre-programmed loops and sampled beats, as the “press play” aspect can make the show feel less immediate and exciting, but Phantogram solved that problem with Josh Carter’s live guitars and Sarah Barthel’s spot-on lead vocals. The generosity and gratitude of the band was evident, as they repeatedly thanked the audience for their support. Selling out Bowery, clearly, will not be the end of this duo’s journey. I just hope they don’t feel too much pressure to move to Brooklyn.

I recorded this set from the balcony with the hypercardiod microphones at eye level with the sound staff, and the omnidirectional microphones taped to the soundboard cage, providing a clear and balanced blend of sound. Enjoy!

Tracks [51:48]
01 As Far As I Can See
02 Let Me Go
03 Mouthful of Diamonds
04 Running From the Cops
05 You Are the Ocean
06 Make A Fist
07 Turn It Off
08 When I’m Small
09 [encore break]
10 All Dried Up
11 Futuristic Casket

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Phantogram, visit their MySpace page, and purchase their excellent album Eyelid Movies from Barsuk Records [HERE].

[photos taken for nyctaper by David Andrako — click photos for higher resolution]

Although Dinosaur Feathers have appearedtwice on nyctaper in the last six months, it had been last summer since I personally had last seen them live. In the intervening months, the band released their new album Fantasy Memorial, which has gathered a ton of glowing press (and one painfully overwritten pan by a low-rent pitchfork wannabe with issues). With the positive momentum behind them, Dinosaur Feathers went on a successful tour, booked high profile gigs (Sasquatch Festival and summer Pier shows included) and generally are playing with a ton of confidence. We were delighted to have beat the rush and booked them months ago for our anniversary show at Pianos this past Saturday. The three band members spent the entire show in the room, chatted with friends and cheered on the other bands — their success has not changed them from the friendly folks we met last year. The set was, by the band’s own account, one of the best shows they’ve played in a while. Greg and Duck were as one in unison on the harmonies, and new-ish bassist Ryan adds a palpable kinetic stage energy. The songs were primarily new album material, with one debut EP track and one new song included. The venue was packed when Dinosaur Feathers performed — you can literally hear the buzz of the room in between songs — and a large part of the success of our third anniversary show can be attributed to this band.

This set was recorded with a feed from the board mixed with two Neumann room mics and the sound quality is outstanding. Enjoy!

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT Dinosaur Feathers, visit their website, visit their MySpace page, and purchaseÂ their new album Fantasy Memorial from the BUY link at their website [HERE].

Since it posted its inaugural recording back in 2007, nyctaper.com has tried to expose its readers to the latest music from well-known artists as well as promote newer bands that are worthy of attention. The NYCTaper 3rd Anniversary Concert, held this year at the intimate Pianos in Manhattan, was particularly dedicated to honoring that second (and arguably more important) mission. At a venue already legendary for exposing soon-to-be stars, four of our favorite bands took the stage and gave performances that matched or exceeded their strongest efforts to date. Our headliner, ArpLine, has been playing nonstop in 2010, and their tightly-composed sets have continued to win over fans. Combining technological prowess with stellar hooks and a focused delivery, ArpLine performances sound and feel big. This set, despite clocking in at a venue-mandated 36 minutes (the DJ party started at 1), did not disappoint, as the band kicked things off with their Village Voice-approved single, “Fold Up Like A Piece of Paper,” and wrapped up the night with my favorite of their songs, the rhythmic, head-bobbing “Parts Unknown.” As this was my first full year as a contributor to the site, and one of the first bands that I weighed in for us to feature, I would like to extend my sincere personal thanks to ArpLine and their management not only for playing our show, but for their music. And, of course, to the founder of nyctaper for making this all possible. Most of all, I would like to thank our readers for their encouragement as well as criticism.

The sets of the other three acts, Dinosaur Feathers, Uninhabitable Mansions, and Natureboy, will be posted soon. We recorded each of these sets with the Neumann hypercardiod microphones and a stereo soundboard feed provided by our hosts at Pianos. The sound quality is excellent. Enjoy!

If you email nyctaper for access to this recording, we expect that you will PLEASE SUPPORT ArpLine, visit their website, and purchase their excellent debut album Travel Book, when it is released this fall (the band’s Bandcamp site is no more as the album will be officially released then).

MV & EE is the brainchild of Matt Valentine and Erika Elder, whose recording career as has seen collaborations with dozens of other serious players. Unsurprisingly, the band’s sound focuses heavily on Valentine and Elder’s string work, with Valentine on various guitars and Elder on pedal steel and electric mandolin. That sound has been described as a combination of American folk and Indian ragas, or as the the Wikipedia entry puts it, “Indian raga style composition with Appalachian folk and post-psychedelic electrical experimentalism. They use Western and Easternacoustic instruments amplified and augmented with effects such as reverb, delay, and flange. Their compositions occasionally feature vocals, which are off-kilter and rambling, while seeming drugged.” If you happened to fall into that last category yourself last Thursday night (that is, drugged), you were well served by this set, which like the Woods set that followed, was played against the soaring, psychedelic backdrop of the Joshua Light Show. The set was a journey that almost demanded displacement from the here and now; letting it absorb you, rather than simply paying attention, was the only way to fully get it (and maybe why The New York Times apparently didn’t). The band played a number of new songs, as well as a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Positively 4th Street.”

I recorded this set from the center of the balcony with the DPA microphones, as with the Woods recording, and the sound is excellent. Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER and LEGAL NOTICE

nyctaper.com is a live music blog that offers a new paradigm of music distribution on the web. The recordings are offered for free on this site as are the music posts, reviews and links to artist sites. All recordings are posted with artist permission or artists with an existing pro-taping policy.

All recordings and original content posted on this site are @nyctaper.com as live recordings pursuant to 17 U.S.C. Section 106, et. seq. Redistribution of nyctaper recordings without consent of nyctaper.com is strictly prohibited.

nyctaper.com hereby waives all copyright claims to any and all recordings posted on this site to THE PERFORMERS ONLY. If any artist posted on this site requests that recordings be removed, those recordings will be removed forthwith.